Cutting or drilling device



March 14, 1944. C, E, s'roL'Tz 2,344,065

l CUTTING OR DRILLING DEVICE Filed June 27, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 1 AITOIZNE March 14, 1944'. c. E. sToLTZ CUTTING OR DRILLING DEVICE Filed June 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVNTOR Cial/955 5X0@ ArroeNe-Y March 14, 1944. c. E. s'roLTz CUTTING OR DRILLING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 27, 1941 MarchV 14, 1944. c. E. sToLTz CUTTING OR DRILLING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 27, 1941 A'ITOR NEY Patented Mar. 14, 1944 2,344,065 CUTTING on DRILLI'NG DEVICE.

Charles E.

man Manufacturing Company,

corporation of Illinois Application June 27, 1941, Serial No. 400,051

16 Claims. ('Cl. 2655-28) This invention relates to improvements in cutting or drilling devices and more particularly relates to a new and improved drilling device particularly adapted for drilling relatively large holes in mines underground.

The present invention relates to a drilling device somewhat similar to that disclosed in a prior application Serial'No. 379,218, led jointlyA by me and Clem C. Austin on February 17, 1941, now Patent No. 2,292,098, but diiers from said prior application in that the rotating parts of the drilling mechanism are protected and the drilling mechanism is adapted to be mounted on a post instead of a truck, and in that a different means is provided for guiding the cutter chain, which means also forms an enclosure f or the cutter chain.

The principal objects of my inventionrare to.V

provide a new and improved drilling device presenting a. number of traveling cutting surfaces to the coal face and chain adapted to make an endwise cut while being driven in a closed orbital path at the same time it is a novel form of Vguide means for the chain, jen--l closing all of the chain except the extreme forward cutting end thereof.

A more specic object of my invention is to provide a novel form of guide means for the cutter chain which also forms an venclosure for' all except the forward cutting end thereof, which guide means is so arranged as to aid in removing the cuttings from the drill hole.l

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification pro'- ceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a drilling mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the drilling mechanism cutting a hole in a mine wall;

Figure 2 is a rear end view of the device shown in Figure l, and showing certain details of the post for supporting the drill;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan View of the device, drawn to substantially the same scale as Figure '3, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in horizontal section;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially along line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 6- 6 of Figure 3;

including a cutter being rotatably driven, together with said column Stoltz, Chicago, Ill., assignory to Good-- Chicago, Ill., a

Figure r'lis anenlar'gfed vdetail view of thev cut`' ting element, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown sectioni Figure 8 is a detail View of the vcutting element, drawn to a slightly smaller scale l than Figure 7, showing the cutting element cutting in the mine wall and showing certain parts thereof inl section;

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view of the cut- Y ter chain, with certain parts shown in section;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong line |0I0 of Figurev 9';

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional'view taken through thefront 'endof the cutting element' in' order to show certainidetailsthereof; and' Figure '12 'is a transverse sectional'view'ofthe'I cutting element',' taken substantially valong line l Ihel embodiment of my' invention illustratedl in the drawings includes' a "drilling 'mechanism-y generally indicated by reference 'characte'rfif mounted'n a post'or jack |I,'fr vertical 'ad justrnent withrespect th'ere'ato.J The post Il is of a usual "construction corn-i monly used in'm'ines for suppdr'ting'a 'drill'l' during Cutting," and vincludes` Va;y collar I'3' abuttingfr theV underside`- ofa" columnv 'I 4' and threaded Jo'n" a vertical shaft l5, for's`ecurly enga'ging'l'ater# ally spaced engaging 4ends'l 6' and"r I1 of said'po'st' with the 7 mine roof and' botto'fnandfor holdingr n 'position during 'the drilling' 'operation. sleeve f8 hasfabracket I9 projecting laterally therefrom' andfform's anadjus'table" support for a thread bar 2 0 anda' supporting and guiding bar 2| for y'the drilling mechanism,

cal adjustment with respect ,theretofand is vertically moved along saidcolumn bymeans; of a ratchet device generally indicated by' reference characterZZ (see Figure 2). Said ratchet device may be ofa usual type, such asis used in liftingjacks, ,and will not herein be 'shown or described in detail since itis no part of'my present invention. l j l v' The thread bar 20 and guiding bar 2| lare mounted in the bracket I9 at theirfrear ends and extend therefrom in, parallel relation with re' spect to eachother in avgenerally horizontal' dil' rection'. Said supportingand guiding bar has an adjustable engaging end v24, adapted to be gaged with vthe mine wall by means of a thread-j e'd hand wheel 25. Said hand wheel hasbe'aring engagement with the forward end of 'said-support#y ing and guiding bar and is threaded von a rear@ wardly projecting portion of said engaging 'end of said bar. A similar engaging member (not shown) is provided on the forward end of said thread bar, for engagement with the mine wall, for holding said feed bar in position in the mine wall.

The drilling mechanism is supported on the thread bar and guide bar 2| by means of a frame 21 forming. a housing for certain of the drive gearing for the drilling mechanism, and by means of a forwardly spaced depending support member A8 secured to a forwardly projecting portion 29 of said frame. Bottom housing pieces- 30 and 3| are secured to the underside of said frame and said forwardly projecting portion of said frame, respectively. Said bottom housing piece 30, with the underside of said frame 21, forms a bearing support for a threaded sleeve 33, threaded on said thread bar; and said forwardly projecting portion 29, with said bottom housing piece 3|, forms a support. for a bearing sleeve 34, mounted. in said.' forwardly projecting portion and forming a means for supporting said drilling mechanism for slidablemovement along said thread bar. Similar bearing sleeves (not shown) spacedA laterally from said sleeves 33` and 34 are mounted in the' lower portion of said frame 21 and are held in engagement therewith by means of said bottom housing portions 30 and 3| respectively, and form bearings for the guidebar 2|v for supporting saidV drilling mechanism for slidable movement along said guide bar.

A. motor is provided to move the drilling mechanism along the thread bar 2|) and support bar 2| at a relatively slowfeeding speed. Said motor is mountedv at one of. itsr ends onA an upwardly projecting rear wall 3810i the frame 21, and projects rearwardly therefrom.` A pinion 36 is' keyed on an armature shaft 31 of said motor and meshes with and drives a spur gear 39, freely mounted on the threaded'. sleeve. 3-3. Said spur gear is connected withsaid sleeve, for rotatably driving said sleeve at a frictionally controlled speed by meansv of ar friction disk 40 mounted on a ange-4| of a drivenA member 43, feathered on the outside of the threaded sleeve 33. Said friction disk' is engagedA with one side' face of said gear by ay compression spring 44,l interposed between' a flanged portion 45 of said sleeve and the flange 4| of the driven member. 43,

Referring now in particular to certain details of the drilling mechanism, the cutting mechanism for drilling includes a cutter chain 41. guided for movement within and beyond the forward end of an elongated casing 49. Said casing is rotatablyV mounted on the frame 21' and the support member 28 on ball bearings 50. 5|, and 52 in a manner which will herein more clearly appear as this specification proceeds (see Figures 3 and 4.

The elongated casing 49 includes a tube 53 threaded within and projecting forwardly from a forward housing portion 54 of said casing, Said forward portion of said casing is mounted within the ball bearing 52,v which in turn. is mounted in the support member 28. A rear housing portion 55 of said casi-ng is secured toand projects rearwardly of said forward portion and is provided with a'rearwardly projecting cylindrical portion 56, mounted on the ball bearings 50 and 5|.

The means for holding said tube for rotation with said housing portion of said casing includes a key 51 engaging a keyway 58 in said housing. It also includes a retaining collar 59, threaded on said tube and abutting the forward end of the forward housing portion 54, and locked for 1'0- tation with said housing by means of a locking screw 60, threaded within said collar and engaging a suitable recessed portion of said forward housing (see Figure 3). Said holding means also includes a collar 6| threaded on the inner end of said tube and abutting an inner shouldered portion 62 of said forward housing portion and locked in engagement with said housing portion by means of a locking screw 63.

The forward housing portion 54 is provided with a rearwardly projecting portion 64, which projects within the rear housing portion 55, and which has a pair of ball bearings 65, 65 mounted therein and forming bearings for a shaft 66.

A- sprocket 61, keyed on said shaft, meshes with the cutter chain 41 for driving said cutter chain within the tube 53 and beyond the forward end thereof.

Said sprocket is of a larger diameter than the inside diameter of said tube, and guide members 94', 941 are provided to restrict the path of travel of the chain so it will enter and pass through said tube. Said guide members will hereinafter be more clearly described as this specification proceeds. This construction enables the chain tobe efficiently driven by a sprocket of a relatively large number of teeth without increasing the diameter of the tube 53, through which said chain passes, to a point where it would be impractical to cut clearance therefor, and still maintain the hole to the required size for the insertion of a blasting cartridge,

The rear housing portion 55 is secured to an annular shouldered portion of said forward housing portion by means of cap screws 68, 68 and forms a housing for a bevel pinion 69, keyed on the shaft 66 outside of the rearwardly projecting Y portion 64 of the forward housing portion 54, and

alsoy forms a housing for a bevel gear 10, meshed with said bevel pinion. Said bevel gear, as herein. shown, is provided with an integrally formed rearwardly projecting shaft 1|, extending through the ball bearings 5|) and 5| and forming a support for said ball bearings,A for rotatably mounting said rear housing portion on the upwardly projecting wall 38 of the frame 21. Said shaft extends through said rear wall and is secured to and held from rotation with respect to said frame by means of nuts 12 and 13, threaded on said shaft and engaging opposite sides of said rear wall.

The cylindrical portion 56 of said rear housing portion has a spur gear 14 keyed on the outside thereof and meshed with and driven from the armature pinion 36, for rotatably driving the casing 49 about its longitudinal axis and for driving the cutter chain within said elongated casing and beyond the forward end thereof by the walking action of the bevel pinion 69 around the stationary bevel gear 16.

The cutter chain 41 is herein shown as being an ordinary link type roller chain with bit holding attachments 15, 15, connecting the links of said chain together and alternately extending laterally from opposite sides of said chain (see Figures 9 and 10). Each laterally extending portion of each bit holding attachment is provided with a recess 16 for receiving a cutter bit 11. Each of said bits is held in position in its respective recess by means of a locking pin 19 extending longitudinally through said attachment and recess and engaging a recessed portion of said bit. As herein shown, said bits are provided with two cutting points so that when one point is dulled, the bit may be reversed and the other point used for cutting.

The cutter chain 41 passes from the sprocket 61 through the tube 53 to and aroundl a direction changing device at the forward end of said tube, hereinshown as being an idler roller 83 mounted in a forked open forward portion of said tube, on a shaft 84. Said idler roller 83 is mounted on a bearing 85, which is mounted on the shaft 84. Said Shaft is mounted 'at its ends in opposite furcations of the forked forward end of the tube 53, which furcations are herein shown as beingreinforced by reinforcing plates 86, 86 extending along opposite sides thereof. The outer diameter of said idler roller is such that the bits 11, 11 will subscribe an arc of a diameter sufficient to cause said bits to 'cutr clearance for said tube as they make an endwise cut in the mine wall, to permit said tube to follow said chain within the hole which is being cut.

The means for guiding the cutter chain 41 within said tube includes a plate 93, herein shown as extending along the central portion of said tube and as being adapted to have the outgoing and return runs of said cutter chain move along opposite sides thereof. Said chain is held in sliding engagement with said plate by means of guide members 94, 94, mounted Within said tube on opposite sides of said plate and engaging the outsides of the bit holding attachments 15, 15. The forward and rear ends of said guide members are curved outwardly to engage said cutter chain and to restrict its path so it will readily move through said tube.

Openings 95, 95 are provided along said tube at spaced intervals, to permit the cuttings brought rearwardly by the cutter chain 41 to be discharged therethrough during rotation of said tube. Likewise, a plurality of openings 96, 96 are provided in the housing portion 55, for the discharge of cuttings therefrom.

A spiral conveying fin 91 extending along the outside of said tube from the forward to rear end thereof, is provided to progress the cuttings rearwardly along the hole which is being drilled, upon rotation of said tube, and to prevent said cuttings from fouling said tube during the cutting operation.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the specific embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a drilling device, a bit carrying cutter chain, an elongated casing open at its forward end and forming a guide means for said cutter chain, means for rotatably driving said casing about its longitudinal axis,. a drive sprocket of a larger diameter than the inside diameter of said casing, for driving said cutter chain, and means for guiding said cutter chain from said drive sprocket into said casing and fo-r movement within said casing and beyond the forward end thereof, for cutting a round hole upon rotatable movement of said casing about its longitudinal axis.

2. In a drilling device, abit carrying cutter chain, an elongated casing open at its forward end and forming a guide means forsaid cutter chain, means for rotatably driving said casing about its longitudinal axis, a drive 4sprocket of a-lar'ger diameter than the inside diameter of said casing, for driving said cutter chain, means disposed within said casing for guiding said cutter chain from said drive sprocket into said casing and for movement within said casing, and direction changing means at the open forward portion of said' casing, for changing the direction of said cutter chain and for guiding said cutter chain for cutting a round hole beyond the forward end of said casing upon rotatable movement of said casing about a longitudinal axis. Y

3. In a drilling device including an elongated casing, a bit carrying cutter chain, a sprocket of larger diameter than the inside diameter of said casing, for driving said cutter lchain within said casing, means for guiding said cutter chain for movement within said casing including a member extending along said casing and dividing said casing into two parts along which the outgoing and return runs of said chain travel and other means for engaging said chain with said dividing member, to cause it to travel within said casing.

4. In a drilling device including an elongated casing, a bit carrying cutter'chain and means for guiding said cutter chain for movement within said casing including a member extending alongr said casing and dividing said casing into two parts along which the outgoing and return runs of said chain travel, a sprocket of a larger diameter than the inside diameter of said casing, for driving said cutter chain about said dividing member, and guide strips spaced from opposite sides of said member and extending parallel thereto and en-` gaging the outsides of said cutter chain, for guid ing said cutter chain within said casing and maintaining the outgoing and return runs of said cutter chain in engagement with opposite sides of said member.

5. In a drilling device, an elongated casing, means for rotatably driving saidA casing about its longitudinal axis, a bit carrying cutter chain, a cutter chain sprocket of larger diameter than the inside diameter of said casing, for driving said cutter chain within said casing and beyond the forward end thereof, and guide means for said cutter chain including a member extending along said casing and dividing said casing into two parts, guide strips spaced from opposite sidesof said member and extending along each of said parts and engaging the outsides of said cutter chain, for maintaining the outer and return runs of said cutter chain in engagement with opposite sides of said member, during passage of said chain through said casing, and a rotatable direction changing member at the forward end of said casing for guiding said cutter chain to cut a round hole of a larger diameter than said casing, upon rotatable movement of said casing about saidv longitudinal axis. v

6. In a drilling apparatus, a cutter chain, a chain guiding member for guiding said chainl in a closed orbital path, powerY operated means for rotating said chain guiding member about its longitudinal axis and for driving said chain orbitally about said guiding member including amotoi` and a geared drive connection from said motor to said. chain guiding member, and another geared drive connection from said motor, for feeding said chain guiding -member in an endwise direction during rotation of said chain guiding member and movement of said cutter chain about said chain guiding member. l

7. In a drilling device, 'an elongated casing open atv its ends, a biticarrying cutter chain, means for guiding said cutter chain for movement within said casing, direction vchanging means at the open forward portion of said casing, for changing the direction of said cutter chain and for guiding said cutter chain to cut beyond the forward endv of said casing, means for rotatably driving said casing and for simultaneously driving said cutter chain within said casing for causing said cutter chain to cut a round hole, and openings within said casing to permit the discharge of the cuttings therefrom.

8. In a drilling device, a bit carrying cutter chain, an elongated casing open at its ends, means for guiding saidcutter chain for movement Within said casing, direction changing means at the open forward portion of said casing, for changing the direction of said cutter chain and for guiding said cutter chain beyond the forward end of said casing, means for rotatably driving. said casing and for simultaneously driving said cutter chain Within said casing, means for feeding said casing in an endwise direction in a mine Wall for causing said cutter chain to cut a round hole, upon rotation of said casing, and means on the outside of said casing for propelling the cuttings rearwardly along said casing, upon rotation thereof.

9. In a drilling device, a, bit carrying cutter chain, an elongated casing open at its ends, means for guiding said cutter chain for movement within said casing, direction changing means at the open forward portion of said casing, for changing the direction of said cutter chain and for guiding said cutter chain beyond the forward end of said casing, means for rotatably driving said casing and for simultaneously driving said cutter chain within said casing, means for feeding said casing in an endwise direction in a mine wall, for causing said cutter chain to cut a round hole, upon rotation of said casing, and means for propelling the cuttings rearwardly along said casing, upon rotation thereof, including a spiral conveyer extending along the outside of saidr casing.

10. In a drilling device, a bit carrying cutter chain, an elongated casing open at its ends, means for guiding said cutter chain for movement within said casing, direction changing means at the open forward portion of said casing, for changing the direction of said cutter chain and for guiding said cutter chain to cut beyond the forward end of said casing, means for rotatably driving said casing and for simultaneously driving said cutter chain within said casing, means for feeding said casing in an endwise direction in a mine wall for causing saidv cutter chain to cut a round hole upon rotation of said casing, openings in said casing to permit the discharge of the cuttings therefrom, and means on the outside of said casing, for propelling the cuttings rearwardly therealong.

l1. A drilling device including an elongated casing, a bit carrying cutter chain guided for movement within said casing and beyond the forward and rear ends thereof, a sprocket of a larger diameter than the inside diameter of said casing, for driving said cutter chain, and means for guiding said cutter chain for movement within said casing including a rotatable direction changing member at the forward end of said casing, a plate extending along said casing intermediate the side walls thereof, and means mounted within said casing on the opposite sides of said plate and engaging the outsides of said cutter chain and maintaining the outer and return runs of said cutter chainin engagement with opposite sides of said plate, during passage of said chain through said casing.

12. A drilling device including an elongated casing, abit carrying cutter chain guided for movement within said casing and beyond the forward-and rear ends thereof, and means for guiding said cutter chain for movement within said casing including a rotatable direction changing member at the forward end of said casing, a plate extending along said casing intermediate the side walls thereof, means mounted within said casing on the opposite sides of said plate and engaging the outsides of said cutter chain and maintaining the outer and return runs of said cutter chain in engagement with opposite sides of said plate, during passage of said chainv through said casing, and spaced openings in said casing to permit the discharge of cuttings therefrom.

13. A drilling device including an elongated casing, a bit carrying cutter chain guided for movement Within said casing and beyond the forward and rear ends thereof, and means for guiding said cutter chain for movement within said casing including a rotatable direction changing member at the forward end of said casing, a plate extending along said casing intermediate the side walls thereof, means mounted within said casing on the opposite sides of said plate and engaging the outsides of said cutter chain and maintaining the outer and return runs of said cutter chain in engagement with opposite sides of said plate, during passage of said chain through said casing, and a spiral on the outside of said casing, for progressing the cuttings rearwardly therealong.

14. A drilling device including an elongated casing, a bit carrying cutter chain guided for movement within said casing and beyond the forward and rear ends thereof, and means for guiding said cutter chain for movement within said casing including a rotatable direction changing member at the forward end of said casing, a plate extending along said casing intermediate the side walls thereof, means mounted within said casing on the opposite sides of said plate and engaging the outsides of said cutter chain and maintaining the outer and return runs of said cutter chain in engagement with opposite sides of said plate, during passage of said chain through said casing, spaced openings in said casing to permit the discharge of cuttings therefrom, and a spiral on the outside of said casing, for progressing the cuttings rearwardly therealong.

15. A drilling device including an elongated casing, a bit carrying cutter chain guided for movement within said casing and beyond the forward and rear ends thereof, a cutter chain drive sprocket of a larger diameter than the inside diameter of said casing, for driving said cutter chain, means for guiding said cutter chain from said sprocket into said casing and for movement within said casing including a rotatable direction changing member at the forward end of said casing, a plate extending along said casing intermediate the side Walls thereof, means mounted within said casing on the opposite sides of said plate and engaging the outsides of said cutter chain. and maintaining the outer and return runs of said cutter chain in engagement with opposite sides of said plate, during passage of said chain through said casing, means disposed rearwardly of saidv casing for rotatably driving said casing and driving said cutter chain drive sprocket, and means for feeding said casing in a longitudinal direction, for causing said cutter chain to cut a circular hole in a mine Wall of a larger diameter than said casing.

16. A drilling device including an elongated casing, a bit carrying cutter chain guided for movement Within said casing and beyond the forward and rear ends thereof, and means for guiding said cutter chain ior movement Within said casing including a rotatable direction changing member at the forward end of said casing, a plate extending along said casing intermediate the side Walls thereof, means mounted within said casing on the opposite sides of said plate and engaging the outsides of said cutter chain and maintaining the outer and return runs of said cutterl chain in engagement With opposite sides of said plate, during passage of said chain through said casing, means for rotatably driving said casing and driving said cutter chain therethrough, means for feeding said casing in a longitudinal direction, for causing said cutter chain to cut a circular hole in a mine Wall, spaced openings in said casing to permit said cutter chain to discharge the cuttings therethrough, and a spiral conveyer Vane on the outside of said casing, for progressing the cuttings rearwardly therealong, upon rotation of said casing.

CHARLES E. STOLTZ. 

